CPU Utilization
& MP3 Encoding Rates
|
MP3
Bitrate
|
Utilization
@ 533 MHz
|
Utilization
@ 800 MHz
|
Max
Encode Rate
|
|
64Kb/s
|
75%
|
65%
|
9.4
X
|
|
128Kb/s
|
65%
|
55%
|
6.4
X
|
|
320Kb/s
|
45%
|
35%
|
3.6
X
|
I was genuinely surprised
at the ratio at which CPU utilization increased with bitrate encoding. I thought
that an inverse proportion would have been reflected in the tests, but I was
wrong. The Utilization rises with lower bitrates due to higher DAE (digital
audio extraction) rates from the CD-ROM. Based on the above results, I have
revised system recommendations from factory specs.
System Recommendations
|
Component
|
Factory
Minimum
|
Factory
Optimum
|
TargetPC
Minimum
|
Test
System
|
|
CPU
|
200
MHz
|
300
MHz
|
350
MHz
|
C2
@ 533 & 800
|
|
RAM
|
64MB
|
128MB
|
128MB
|
128MB
|
|
Free
HD Space
|
50MB
|
50MB
|
50MB
|
8GB
|
|
Operating
System
|
Win98
w/USB
|
Win98
w/USB
|
Win98
w/USB
|
Win98SE
w/USB
|
|
CD-ROM
Speed
|
Not
Specified
|
Not
Specified
|
24X
(12X DAE)
|
40X
(24X DAE)
|
It's worthy to note that
the 40X CD-ROM is none other than the Plextor 40X max from the Plextor Combo
I've previously reviewed. Using the Tekram DC-315/U SCSI PCI card, my test
setup was about as good as it gets. I'm suggesting, to avoid headaches, that
nothing less than a Pentium II 350 MHz processor with a CD-ROM capable of
solid 12X DAE be the minimum. It's conceivable that with the TargetPC minimum
setup, CPU utilization would hover in the 85-90% range, which is rather annoying
if you can't do anything else while encoding. Of particular note was that
the encoding process did not appear to use any RAM whatsoever. I paid close
attention to the Windows resource meter and it stood firm at 60MB free for
an entire 600MB CD ripping session.
Conclusion
It's expensive and it's
the best at what it does. The Hy-Tek MusicCompressor nabs an 8 out of 10 rating
and the editor's choice award. I couldn't make this black box skip and the
marriage of the HD and RAM creates a product that is most desirable. The outdated
LCD panel could be improved, but it's current functionality cannot. If you
have the bucks and can't stand 30-60 minutes of MP3 storage, lay your hands
on the PJB-100, you'll love it.
William
Yaple
5/16/00
